Alleged IPL Spot-Fixer May Face Life In Jail After Criminal Breach Of Trust Charge

Accused cricket fixer Shanthakumaran Sreesanth "faces the possibility of life in prison after he and his alleged co-conspirators had charges against them upgraded by Delhi police," according to Ben Doherty of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Sreesanth and Indian Premier League Rajasthan Royals teammates Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila have now "been charged with criminal breach of trust, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment." But while attention remains on Sreesanth as the highest-profile player arrested, "the fixing scandal continues to widen." Eighteen people "have now been arrested." In addition to the three players, "four former first-class players, and 11 bookies have faced court" (SMH, 5/22).

MORE TROUBLE: The PTI reported bookie Sunil Bhatia "ran a temple in Nagpur eyeing the offerings made by believers and induced a cricketer" who was just earning Rs 2,000-3,000 ($36-$54) after being banned by the Board of Control for Cricket in India into manipulations. Bhatia also told police that "he fixed matches of the rebel Indian Cricket League and even some matches of Bangladesh Premier League" (PTI, 5/22). The PTI also reported there is more trouble for the arrested cricketers and bookies after the Income Tax department "has begun a probe into alleged hawala and illegal cash transactions and will question them." The I-T department has contacted the investigators of the Delhi police and initiated a "tax evasion and suspected hawala dealings" related probe into the latest allegations of spot-fixing (PTI, 5/22).